Case Studies

Education

Mark Kirsch focuses his practice on domestic and international franchising and distribution matters. He represents and counsels clients on various corporate, commercial, licensing, franchise, and business development matters. His work involves primarily transactional and regulatory matters, mergers and acquisitions, international franchising and distribution, as well as counseling on dispute resolution, and mediation of franchise-related disputes. Mark also serves as an operating partner for Atlanta-based investment firm BIP Capital, where he leverages his deep knowledge of the franchise industry to identify investment opportunities for the firm’s portfolio companies.

Mark enjoys working with a wide variety of clients, which range from large national and international chains to emerging systems, across a wide range of industries including restaurants and food service, hotels and the hospitality industry, health care, equipment manufacturing and distribution, educational and training businesses, technology and telecommunications, car rental and automotive services, employment and personnel agencies, convenience stores, real estate, publishing, cosmetics and hair care, and various retail product and service businesses. This has given him extensive experience including developing and structuring franchise and distribution systems; drafting and negotiating franchise, licensing, and distribution agreements, asset purchase agreements and related commercial contracts; drafting contracts and counseling clients on advertising and purchasing cooperatives; and counseling clients on compliance with state and federal regulatory issues.

Mark has been involved in numerous corporate, commercial, and merger transactions, including many private equity backed deals, related to the acquisition, sale and/or combination of franchise systems.

Mark is also an Operating Partner for BIP Capital, a private equity firm that invests in franchise concepts.

Mark often lends his franchise expertise to others by writing articles speaking at industry seminars about a variety of issues including branding, licensing, franchising, and distribution issues. Mark is active in the franchise industry, including past service as chair of the International Franchise Association’s Supplier Forum, and was a member of the IFA’s Board of Directors.

WORKING WITH GPM

Gray Plant Mooty is recognized as one of the leading corporate law firms in Minnesota and one of the top franchise firms in the world. Our roots go back to 1866. Today, we are a 180-plus attorney, full-service firm with offices in Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota; Washington, D.C.; and Fargo, North Dakota.